Dispensing apparatus for corrosive liquids



Jan. 3, 1961 s. LIPSHUTZ ETAI.

DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR CORROSIVE LIQUIDS Filed March 19, 1959INVENTORS SIDNEY LIPSHUTZ EDWARD G. BARNETT BY A TORNEY United StatesPatent DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR CORROSIVE LIQUIDS Sidney Lipshutz,Roslyn, and Edward H. Barnett, Merion,

Pa, assignors to Standard Products Co., Inc., Phila- Our inventionrelates to filling containers with corrosive liquids such as sulphuricacid. 1

In the loading of a container with corrosive materials such as sulphuricacid, (which is used in storage batteries) the quantity of sulphuricacid loaded into the container must be of a predetermined quantity. Thereason for the predetermination of the quantity is that electric storagebatteries are shipped without the liquid, but the predetermined quantityof acid is separably shipped. Then when the battery is to be used, thecontainer with the predetermined amount of sulphuric acid is emptiedinto each cell of the storage battery. Remembering that each cellreceives a predetermined quantity of acid, the

container must be of such nature that it is not necessary for the personout in the field, such as army personnel, to pour unknown quantities ofthe sulphuric acid into the cell.

It also is well known that sulphuric acid has a tendency to corrodevalves and electrical equipment. Hence, corrosion of valves and othermovable machinery renders them inoperative.

Diluted acid creates a low resistance circuit which is dangerous to theworkmen engaged in the filling of containers with sulphuric acid. Hence,to avoid danger to the workmen, we use air valves having a piston orram. The use of an air valve eliminates fluttering or fibrillation. Itthe valve flutters, accurate dispensing of the corrosive material cannotbe achieved.

Therefore, it is an object of our invention to provide for the loadingof sulphuric acid to substantially the precise quantity at a rapid rateand wherein the machinery parts will not be subjected to the corrosiveaction of the corrosive liquid or its fumes.

Another object of our invention is to provide a system of accuratelydispensing a predetermined quantity of corrosive fluid.

Other objects of our invention are to provide an improved device of thecharacter described, that is easily and economically produced, which issturdy in construction, and which is highly eflicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, our invention consists inthe details of construction and combination of parts, as will be morefully understood from the following description, when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a schematic view showing the system for operating the unit.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing, we show a container,generally designated as A, for holding sulphuric acid or other corrosivefluids. Within the sulphuric acid container A is a float which actuatesan electrical switch S1. The float 10 and switch S1 controls the flow ofcompressed air through an air controlled valve, generally designated asB, which in turn controls a ram or air compressor, generally designatedas C. The ram C is adapted to compress a flexible acid ingress feed line12 that feeds the corrosive liquid to the tank or reservoir A.

H 2,967,004 Patented Jan. .3, 1961 "ice I An egress feed line 14, madeof flexible tubing impervious to the effects of the corrosive liquid,from the storage reservoir A is adapted to fill a container, generallydesignated as D. A ram or air compressor, generally designated as E,controls the passage of fluid through the egress feed line 14.

An air compressor 15, is connected to a feed line 16 which is connectedto filters 18 and 20 that remove moisture from the compressed air. Thefilters 18 and 20 are connected to each side of an air pressure gage 22which is adapted to adjust the air pressure from' the compressor. Thecompressed air, after being dehydrated, continues through the pipe 24 topipes 26 and 28. The pipe 26 is connected to the valve B which iscontrolled by the float controlled electrical switch S1 to control. thepassage. of acid into the acid reservoir A, and the pipe 27 leads, totheone side of the ram C.

The compressed air passing through the pipe 28 passes through a timecontrolled valve, generally designated as F, which actuates the ram E.The rarn E controls, at predetermined intervals of time, the passage ofacid from the flexible egress feed line or tube into the container D.The time controlled valve F is connected to a timer G, whichelectrically actuates an armature to move the disk in the passagewaywithin the valve F.

Because of the tendency of water to combine with the sulphuric acid,vapor corrosion is bound to occur. With our invention, we dehydrate thecompressed air, thereby eliminating corrosion to the valves and the ramsC and E.

The timer G is open for a predetermined period of time and then closedso that the quantity of acid poured into the container is predetermined.

The pipes or tubes should be made of acid or corrosive resistantmaterial such as neoprene, and the system as hereinbefore explained, isable to operate for an extended period of time without the necessity ofreplacement of parts or of repair.

Although our invention is particularly described as being used inconjunction with sulphuric acid, it may be used industrially to dispensenictric, hydrochloric, phosphour and acetic acid, boron trifluoride,ammonia, bleach.

The rams C and B have pistons 32 and 34 respectively, wherein the aircomes from one side of the pipe 27 and the pipe 30 to press each pistonin one direction only, the flexible acid feed line 12 and the flexibleegress feed line 14, tends to press the piston backwardly when the airpressure is removed from one side of the piston.

Hence, the characteristics of the flexible tubing serves as part of thepressure release on the ram and in any explosive atmosphere there is nodamage of a spark ig-- niting the dangerous explosive atmosphere.

Although our invention has been described in considerable detail, suchdescription is intended as being illus-- trative rather than limiting,since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of theinvention is to be determined as claimed.

We claim:

1. A dispensing system for corrosive fluids comprising a dispensing tankhaving an inlet means and an outlet means, said inlet means being influid connection with a source of corrosive fluid and said outlet meansbeing in fluid connection with a dispensing nozzle positioned to supplycorrosive fluid from said tank to individual removable containers, saidinlet means being operatively controlled by a first supply valve meansinterposed in the fluid connection between said inlet means and saidsource of corrosive fluid, and said outlet means being operativelycontrolled by a second supply valve means interposed in the fluidconnection between said outlet means and said nozzle, each of saidsupply valve means comprising a valve housing in which is provided amovable plunger,

each of said valve housings being in individual fluid connection with asource of compressed fluid for utilizing the compressed fluid to actuatetheir respective plungers, dehydrating means interposed in the fluidconnection between said source of compressed fluid and each of saidvalve housings, a first control valve means interposed in the fluidconnection between said first valve housing and said source ofcompressed fluid, a float means in said tank, said float means beingoperatively associated with an electrical switch to open and close saidswitch in accordance with the position of said float in said tank, saidswitch being in operative electrical circuit with said first controlvalve, a second control valve means interposed in the fluid connectionbetween said second valve housing and said source of compressed fluid,and timing means operatively connected to said second control valvemeans to open and close said second'control valve means in predeterminedtimed sequence.

2. The dispensing system of claiml wherein the fluid connections betweensaid inlet means and said source of corrosive fluid and between saidoutlet means and said nozzle comprise flexible conduits, said flexibleconduits coacting with the plungers in the respective supply valve meansto move said plungers into respective predetermined valve-openingpositions when compressed fluid is removed from the respective valvehousings.

3. The dispensing system'of claim 1 wherein said dehydrating means isprovided in a conduit extending'between said source of compressed fluidand a manifold, and conduits connecting said first and second supplyvalve means to said manifold for placing both said supply valve means incommon connection with said dehydrating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,221,487 Moore Nov. 12, 1940 2,387,922 McBrien Oct. 30, 1945 2,726,019Moran Dec. 6, 1955 2,870,941 Steidley Jan. 27', 1959

